Korea`s Cheers Know No Political Boundries

SEOUL, South Korea -- At a field-hockey match between Korea and the Soviet Union, students from Songnam So Middle School wave the red hammer-and-sickle flag of the Soviet Union.

At a West German-China soccer game, a knot of Koreans cheer the Chinese.

Similar scenes are repeated daily at numerous Olympic venues where communist- bloc teams are competing.

What is going on here?

Only 38 years ago, South Korea was invaded by Soviet-backed communist North Korea and later China. The three-year conflict, halted by truce not treaty, left the two sharply polarized Koreas technically still at war and, until recently, communist-bloc countries generally unwelcome in Seoul.

Political statement? The seeds of revolution? Detente, Korean-style?

The explanation, say Koreans familiar with the situation, lies in Korean culture, the Olympic spirit, the universal concept of good business and, perhaps, a desire to take some of the chill out of the Cold War.

In fact, the Soviets and Chinese aren`t the only foreigners being rooted on by South Korean fans.

Teams from the Netherlands, the Sudan, Gabon, the Central Africa Republic, Ghana, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are among scores benefiting from Korean sideline boosterism.

First and foremost, say Koreans, is the Korean ideal of showing hospitality to a guest.

Fans from the United States, Japan and Western Europe dominate the grandstands, their athletes buoyed by highly visible and vocal support from their countrymen.

But citizens of the Soviet Union, China, other communist-bloc countries and many Third World nations either aren`t permitted to travel freely or can`t afford to, leaving their teams with few native boosters.

Turning out blocs of Korean fans is one way to express Korean hospitality and help equalize crowd advantage.

``If Korean people are cheering for them, they are made to feel welcome,`` said Cho Young-Sonng, director general of human resources for the Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee.

The designated-fan practice began at last year`s Asia Games and proved so successful it was repeated. Cho stressed, however, that beyond giving its blessing SLOOC plays no role in organizing Korean cheering sections.

That is left to Koreans with diplomatic or commercial ties to the various countries. They buy the seats, arrange the transportation and organize the cheers.

For example, the Daewoo Business Group has a refrigerator plant in China. So as a goodwill -- and good-business -- gesture it put together the bloc of pro- China Koreans at the soccer game.

Hyundai, the auto manufacturer, wants to strengthen business in the Middle East, so it provides fans for some teams from that region.

In all, about 40 Korean business groups reportedly are helping organize Korean fan support for some 70 foreign teams.

Other teams are helped by Koreans who have received honorary consul status from foreign nations and who assemble appropriate delegations of Korean fans.

Beyond corporate interests and collective courtesy, there are political motives, as well.

In the last year, South Korea has undergone profound changes in its domestic political structure, opening up more space for dissent and opposition views.

In this more tolerant, democratic atmosphere and anxious to sustain its ``economic miracle`` by expanding its markets, South Korea has used the Games to explore the reduction of tensions and the normalization of relations with communist-bloc countries.

Already, Seoul and Hungary have announced the exchange of diplomatic missions, and the Soviets and South Koreans are reportedly exploring formal trade relations.

Having Korean fans cheer on teams from these former enemies can only help those efforts.